[nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets
Sophie Trist
sweetpeareader at gmail.com
Fri Apr 12 20:56:35 UTC 2013
Carly, here's something to think about. Where would be without
technology? If we didn't have screen readers and notetakers, we'd
be excluded from the sighted world. We'd be locked up in dark
rooms in inhumane institutions like we were centuries ago.
Without technology, we wouldn't be able to fully participate in
school and in the workplace. We wouldn't have gained even a small
fraction of the respect and independence we've earned. Just think
how much more the sighted world would respect us if we could
DRIVE. I will save money for this car if it takes me fifty years.
----- Original Message -----
From: Carly Mihalakis <carlymih at comcast.net
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>,"'National Association of Blind Students
mailing list'" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:14:32 -0700
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets
So often some of us are held fast by reliance of tefchnology
which
more often than not malfunctions. I have found it much more
meaningful depending not on technology that can (and
does) malfunction, leaving blinkie at a loss, and notions of
independence in a state of free fall. but people instead.
Independence accorded me by technology is still, as I see it, a
litttle fake. Don need to make sure you have a back up system in
the car, or a
default systemin case the computer breaks down.
-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
sandersj6 at att.net
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2013 9:25 AM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets
Hi,
I would as well.
I'm 27 years of age and it takes me an hour to get to where I'm
going on the
city bus.
And having to stand outside in the cold weather in the winter
isn't good.
I would take a Google car over the city bus.
Sincerely,
John Sanders
-----Original Message-----
From: Suzanne Germano
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2013 8:54 AM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets
I would drive one of these in a heartbeat. I hate the bus! I am
49 and have
been riding the bus since I was 12. I am frustrated it takes me 2
or more
hours to get somewhere that takes 20-30 minutes by car. And this
has been
both in San Diego and Phoenix with buses running every 20-30
minutes I
almost always end up with 2 hour trips each way. It is
frustrating to only
be able to apply to a company who is on a bus route. I want the
freedom to
work where I would enjoy myself the most and with the position
that matches
my skill best. I also live in Phoenix (for now) and by the time I
get
anywhere I am dripping in sweat. that is not good when going to
work. Give
me a Google car!!
On Fri, Apr 12, 2013 at 4:09 AM, christopher nusbaum <
dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com> wrote:
Kirt,
I agree with you. Before we make any judgments on the Google
car, we
must remember that it is still in the planning stages and that
all
Google cars that have been tested so far are no more than
prototypes.
This is evidenced by the need for the Google car to be taken
over by
human driver when it pulls off the highway, as the story which
someone
reposted here mentioned.
Carly, we must also take into account that some blind people
don't
live in areas where public transportation is easily available,
such as
Boston or New York City. I, for instance, live in a semi rural
town in
Maryland, where our only options For public transportation are
paratransit and a cab service. As you can imagine, neither of
these
options are preferable Because of the cost if not the
reliability. For
this reason, I would love the independence that the Google car
might
give me in this area.
Just my thoughts,
Chris Nusbaum
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 12, 2013, at 2:41 AM, Kirt Manwaring
<kirt.crazydude at gmail.com
wrote:
Patrick,
If it's time they want, I'm willing to give it. I hope you're
right; we'll have to wait and see. I guess my only point was
that
this thing isn't right around the corner; while it's
realistically
viable now, it's still probably a long ways off before we'll be
able
to drive. Where the Google car is now is probably comparable to
where
the internet was thirty or so years ago; people could see the
possibilities, it was realistic and people "in the know" were
probably
aware it was coming...but it still had a long way to go before
it was
viable to the general public.
And, Patrick, you're probably right that airplane pilots don't
have
to manually control the plane very much between takeoff and
landing.
Still, I can almost guarantee you they are paying very close
attention
in the event something goes wrong.
Carley,
I don't really see anything inherently wrong or undesirable
about
driving. In most places it is probably more efficient than
public
transport. Of course there are exceptions; New York city comes
to
mind, for instance. Still, living where I do now, I would
totally
jump on the chance to drive if I could and it were realistic and
safe,
at least most of the time. That being said, it's far enough
away that
I'm definitely not going to stop riding my busses and trains any
time
soon.
Best,
Kirt
On 4/10/13, Justin Williams <Justin.Williams at gmail.com> wrote:
Count me in. I'm driving. No wait; not driving, driven.
-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Carly
Mihalakis
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 11:33 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list;
National
Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets
Hi, List,
On the other hand, for my whole life I have watched sighted folk
seem
to agonize over so much turmoil, and hostility toward their
fellow
man, as they drive. I have always been grateful not having that
crap
to contend with. Besides, I am not confident about chances of
ever
affording such a car. And, I don't care about the principles
personal
cars supposedly afford. Where can they take you that a bus,
train, or
friend/driver cannot?
Ultimately, i believe traveling from point A to point B, oughta
be
a communal affair. Leave the driving to ol' Sighty!
So no, on the car!
Car At 06:23 PM 4/11/2013, Sophie Trist wrote:
I can't wait to see these Google cars come out. It will be a
major
milestone in the independence and assimulation of blind people
in
sighted society. My only worry is that the sighties won't trust
us
to drive, even (maybe especially) if the car was
computer-controlled. Even my boyfriend, who is blind, says he
will
never trust a self-propelled car. Our trouble will be convincing
them that it's safe for us and for others on the road.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brandon Keith Biggs" <brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:02:08 -0700
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets
Hello,
The reason why the Google Car is Superior is because it is
already
going
mainstream, it has a major company behind it and there is
nothing
wrong
with
backing both cars.
The big debate will be if people want to drive under their own
control
or
a
computers. It is not unlike reading Braille or using a screen
reader
to
read
a book. Braille is all fine and dandy, but a screen reader is
very
important. The difference is the Google car is going mainstream
and
will
have mainstream support. It would be the same if Jaws went
mainstream
and
companies like Google started making units that used Jaws and no
screen.
Braille would be useful, but not particularly necessary for most
common
tasks.
If one used a car on city roads and highways, there would be
very
little
or
no need to manually drive. If one wanted to map a long driveway
or
country
road, one would need to manually drive it till the road could be
completely
entered into the database.
Thanks,
Brandon Keith Biggs
-----Original Message-----
From: Sophie Trist
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 1:37 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets
Brandon, I totally 100% agree!!! However, didn't the NFB invent
a
self-propelled car of sorts? If so, it might be hard to convince
them to back the Google car unless we can prove theirs is
superior.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brandon Keith Biggs" <brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:05:01 -0700
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets
Hello,
Yes in a way, the logistics of liability still need to be taken
into account
I'm sure and licensing probably still needs to be worked out,
but
if the
government officials are pushed, it will happen very soon.
I think the NFB should push for these quite hard. Perhaps they
could even
ask that a car come to the convention, I think Google would take
the
challenge.
Thanks,
Brandon Keith Biggs
-----Original Message-----
From: Justin Young
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 9:13 AM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets
So does this mean these vehicles will soon be on the market for
individuals to purchase in Nevada? Sounds like a very
interesting
project.
On 4/11/13, Robert William Kingett <kingettr at gmail.com> wrote:
Google's self-driven cars will soon be appearing on Nevada roads
after
the state's Department of Motor Vehicles approved on Monday the
nation's
first autonomous vehicle license.
The move came after officials rode along on drives on highways,
in
Carson City neighborhoods and along the famous Las Vegas Strip,
the
Nevada DMV said in a statement.
The Nevada legislature last year authorized self-driven cars for
the
state's roads, the first such law in the United States. That law
went
into effect on March 1, 2012.
Google's self-driven cars rely on video cameras, radar sensors,
lasers,
and a database of information collected from manually driven
cars to
help navigate, according to the company.
The DMV licensed a Toyota Prius that Google modified with its
experimental driver-less technology, developed by Stanford
professor and
Google Vice President Sebastian Thrun.
Google's self-driving cars have crossed the Golden Gate Bridge
and
driven along the picturesque Pacific Coast Highway, according to
the
company.
Autonomous vehicles are the "car of the future," Nevada DMV
director
Bruce Breslow said in a statement. The state also has plans to
eventually license autonomous vehicles owned by the members of
the
public, the DMV said.
Legislation to regulate autonomous cars is being considered in
other
states, including Google's home state of California.
"The vast majority of vehicle accidents are due to human error.
Through
the use of computers, sensors and other systems, an autonomous
vehicle
is capable of analyzing the driving environment more quickly and
operating the vehicle more safely," California state Senator
Alex
Padilla said in March when he introduced that state's autonomous
car
legislation.
Other car companies are also seeking self-driven car licenses in
Nevada,
the DMV said.
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